Afghanistan to face New Zealand in one-off Test on this Indian venue

Afghanistan is set to host New Zealand for a groundbreaking Test match in Greater Noida in September, according to a report in the Times of India. This match would mark the first red-ball contest between the two teams, with Afghanistan having played 9 Tests since their debut in 2018 against India.

It is important to mention that Cricket Australia has declined to participate in a bilateral series with Afghanistan due to the restrictions on women's rights imposed by the Taliban regime. However, New Zealand, Australia's Trans-Tasman rivals and neighbors, have reportedly agreed to the proposed Test match.

The New Zealand cricket team is also scheduled to play three Tests in India in October-November. 

Despite their lack of experience in Test cricket, New Zealand will need to be cautious of Afghanistan, who defeated the Black Caps in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup. In that match, Afghanistan batted first and scored a competitive 159 runs in 20 overs, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz leading the way with 80 runs.

New Zealand struggled to chase the target and were eventually bowled out for just 75 runs in 15.2 overs, with Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi causing the most damage. Considering the Test match is likely to be held in the sub-continent, Afghanistan will be confident in their ability to secure a victory.

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